Human World | EarthSky

What’s the birthstone for October?

Posted by EarthSky in Human World | 10 hours ago

If you were born in October, your birth month has 2 birthstones: opal and tourmaline.

Which insects have the worst stings?

Posted by Deanna Conners in Earth | Human World | 1 day ago

Some of the most painful stings come from tarantula hawk wasps, warrior wasps, and bullet ants.

Coronavirus mutations: what we’ve learned so far

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Human World | 2 days ago

Geneticists around the world are studying 100,000 coronavirus genomes – sampled from Covid-19 patients in over 100 countries – to try to understand how the virus is mutating, What science has learned.

Astronauts shelter as ISS boosted to avoid orbital debris

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Human World | Space | 1 week ago

The International Space Station underwent an unscheduled reboost in orbit yesterday, to avoid a collision with an unknown piece of space junk. The 3-man crew was ordered to shelter, but is safe.

A Chinese perspective on autumn

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Earth | Human World | 1 week ago

In Chinese thought, autumn is with the direction west, considered to be the direction of dreams and visions.

What is a hurricane storm surge?

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Earth | Human World | 2 weeks ago

Of all the hazards that hurricanes bring, storm surge is the greatest threat to life and property along the coast.

Advice from an astronaut

Posted by Eleanor Imster in Human World | 2 weeks ago

For anyone who wants to grow up and be an astronaut …. here’s a lovely video with advice from ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.

What’s in wildfire smoke and why it’s so bad for your lungs

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Human World | 3 weeks ago

The health impact of wildfire exposure depends in part on the fire itself and how much smoke a person breathes in, how often and for how long.

Illustration of Perseverance rover in space on Seotember 12, 2020.

Follow the Perseverance rover in real time on its way to Mars

Posted by EarthSky in Human World | Space | 3 weeks ago

Keep track of where NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance is on its journey through space toward its February 18, 2021, landing on Mars. This web app shows you where spacecraft is right now.

‘Apocalyptic’ skies across U.S. West this week

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Human World | Today's Image | 3 weeks ago

Video and images of the weirdly orange skies across the U.S. West this week, created by massive wildfires that incinerated several communities in Oregon in the past 2 days and blotted out the sun in San Francisco.

Artwork showing Earth from space, the Gaia spacecraft, and a radio telescope listening for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence.

A breakthrough in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Human World | Space | 4 weeks ago

The researchers called their new analytical technique “a milestone in SETI.” One researcher commented: “We now know that fewer than one in 1,600 stars closer than about 330 light years host transmitters just a few times more powerful than the strongest radar we have here on Earth.”

Astronomers issue report on the effect of ‘satellite constellations’ on astronomy

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Human World | Space | 1 month ago

A new report concludes that large constellations of bright satellites in low-Earth orbit will fundamentally change ground-based astronomy and impact the appearance of the night sky for stargazers worldwide.

NASA’s guide to near light speed space travel

Posted by EarthSky in Human World | Space | 1 month ago

Take a couple of minutes and have a little fun with this new video from NASA

Pesticides and industrial pollutants found in snow atop Arctic glaciers

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Earth | Human World | 1 month ago

The long journey of these compounds – likely originating in the U.S. and Eurasia – shows the far-reaching impacts of industrial pollution.

The curve of Earth in space, against a dark background, with the Hayabusa2 spacecraft above it and a purple streak headed to Earth's surface.

Hayabusa2 re-entry capsule approved to land in Australia

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Human World | Space | 1 month ago

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said this week that it has now been officially informed that its Hayabusa2 space capsule – carrying precious dust captured from the surface of near-Earth asteroid Ryugu – is approved for landing in Australia.

2019 State of the Climate Report: Peak greenhouse gases and record heat

Posted by EarthSky in Earth | Human World | 2 months ago

2019 ranks among the 3 warmest years in records dating to the mid-1800s. In 2019, greenhouse gases reached their highest levels on record. Both facts are from the 30th annual State of the Climate report, a review of world climate based on contributions from more than 520 scientists in over 60 countries.